Fight against malaria should be national priority — Rep member, Ogah

The Chairman House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Honourable Amobi Ogah has called on the National Assembly to make the fight against malaria a national priority.

In a statement he signed to mark this year’s World Malaria Day, Ogah said this year’s theme is “Health equity, gender and human rights”, gives stakeholders the opportunity to analyze the successes and challenges of the fight against malaria, in particular the need for increased domestic investment and a strong political commitment to the prevention and elimination of this scourge from our country.

He said Africa continues to pay the highest price for malaria In the first 15 years of this century, and great strides have been made in reducing the global burden of malaria.

“The time has come for our countries and all parliamentarians to make the fight against malaria a national priority.

“This political will must be materialized on the one hand by increased and sustainable mobilization of national resources to increase funding, and on the other hand, by the implementation of a monitoring mechanism for good governance capable of guaranteeing transparent use of resources and equity, as well as the participation of all sectors and communities in the fight against malaria.

Ogah noted that the parliamentarians are convinced that, by working in synergy with all the parties concerned, especially civil society organizations and communities, they will be able to follow up the Yaoundé Declaration and encourage the government to explore all avenues to mobilize more resources that will help reduce inequalities in the fight against malaria, thus ensuring access to quality services for vulnerable and marginalized populations, particularly those living in hard-to-reach areas.

He further harped on the need to accelerate the recognition of Community Health Workers by giving them state-recognized status and remuneration, as they are an essential link in the prevention, awareness-raising and simple management of confirmed cases of malaria

“Ensure that the State respects its commitments and mobilizes counterpart funds on time for programs supported by external partners to implement high-impact malaria interventions.

“Ensuring that gender, social rights and the needs of the most vulnerable populations are taken into account. Population health is a profitable investment and a strategic development issue for any State aspiring to social and economic progress,”  he added.

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